A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE -ATTENDING THE 2007 TUCSON GEM SHOW

I was fortunate to travel to the U.S.A. for the first time this year and I made a point of visiting the Tucson Gem show. I am glad I did the trip and would recommend it to other gem collectors/hobbyists if they get the opportunity.
The show is big, really big! It consists of some 38 locations/'shows' around Tucson, of which 13 were wholesale only.There are hundred and hundreds of dealers covering all aspects of lapidary work/mineral collecting/jewelry manufacturing etc. Many of the shows are there to supply the professional jewelry trade but there are also many applicable to the amateur lapidary enthusiast/mineral or fossil collector.

A large range of equipment manufacturers were present covering all areas of lapidary work (faceting equipment, laps, saws, cabbing equipment, tumblers, sphere makers etc). I found the the 'Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show' had the greatest concentration of equipment suppliers this year.
Mineral specimens were available at many of the shows, but the most spectacular/high quality specimens I saw were at the 'Tucson Westward Look Mineral Show' and at the 'Tucson Gem and Mineral Show' (in the convention centre during the last 4 days of 'Tucson'). Faceting and cabbing rough was available at several of the shows, including the JG & M show in Palo Verde (a suburb of Tucson) and at the 'Globe-X/Days Inn' show in the centre of town.

The Tucson Show Guide, which is provided free at the shows, gives a detailed listing of where all the dealers/traders are located, and should be studied carefully to ensure you make good use of your time at the shows. Regular visitors to the shows are also a great source of knowledge.

During the 2 weeks duration of the 'shows', a free shuttle bus service enables visitors to travel around the various locations. Based on my limited experience this year, I would say that you do not really need a car when attending the Tucson shows.

There were plenty of Australians at the show this year, with Australian gems/minerals being a special feature at this years show. I attended several lectures by Australian miners/cutters/dealers and was impressed by the way they represented Australia. Well done!

One of the advantages of attending the show was meeting a lot of friendly and knowledgeable fellow lapidary enthusiasts and mineral collectors. A second positive was the quality of gems and minerals on display. They were better than anything I have seen in the past and I now appreciate what people mean when they talk of really top quality gems and mineral specimens.


The Globex show at Days Inn, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A., 2007. The show filled the motel plus a large number of marquees.	Some of the traders at the Globex show. There were hundreds of traders at 'Globex', as there were at several of the 38 sites around Tucson.
Some of the cathedrals and caves at the Globex show	More of the south american 'cathedrals' and 'caves' at the Globex show!
The 'Gem Mall' had a large range of beads, manufactured jewelry and other items for sale	This photo provides an indication of the size of some of the larger 'tents/marquees' in use at some of the locations around Tucson.
This 'medium size tent' contained hundreds of dealers selling a wide range of gem products.	There were large numbers of beads for sale!
More beads for sale!	The 'GemRide' provided a great (free) shuttle service between venues.
A 'Hummer' stretch limmo!	A display case with some lovely gem/mineral specimens at the 'Westward Look Mineral Show, where I saw many magnificent (and very valuable) specimens.
Goran (A geologist from Canada/Serbia), holding a magnificent rubellite specimen at the Westward Look Mineral Show	A close-up view of the rubellite specimen.
Traders at the 'Electric Park Mineral Show', I purchased several nice specimens here as well as a number of peices of lapidary equipment.	More of the traders at 'Electric Park'
One of the 'replica fossils' available (obviously the original fossils would be a 'tad' too expensive for the average visitor).	The AGTA show at the Tucson Convention centre had a wide range of products on display.
Some magnificent emeralds on display at the AGTA show.	Some very impressive computer controlled cutting/carving and faceting equipment was on display at the show.
A CNC (computer numerical control) machine at the AGTA show.	Some of the 'crowd' in the Tucson Convention Centre, at the 'Tucson Gem and Mineral Show'
An impressive display of minerals including Golden beryl crystals and rubellite .	The size and quality of the crystals on display was most impressive, as this kunzite crystal shows.
A magnificent azurite specimen.	An impressive malachite specimen.
One of several rhodochrosite crystals on display.	Some emeralds from North American emerald mines
A large and rather magnificent aquamarine crystal valued in excess of $80,000 (U.S.D.)	This large quartz crystal was covered with a coating of multi coloured calcite, making a most attractive specimen.
Another magnificent Rhodochrosite specimen.	A lovely aquamarine specimen.
A display on members of the beryl family.	A closeup of the magnificent beryl specimens
This large Rhodochrosite specimen had to be seen to be believed, it was some 20 to 25cm wide.	A flourite specimen.
Goran (left) and John (a Canadian gemmologist,centre) admiring a large tourmaline specimen.	This photo does not do justice to this green, gem quality, tourmaline specimen!
These two peridot crystals,at the 'Worldwide Gem & Jewelry Show', were facet quality, weighing some 225ct and 285ct's respectively.	Some canadian ammonites at the 'Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show'.
A large slab of trilobites.
The GJX Gem and Jewelry Show, opposite the convention centre.	An 82 m.y.o. shark 'fossil' at InnSuites.
Some attractive green flourite specimens from China.	Lapidary equipment at 'Tucson Electric Park', there were many faceting machines on display.
An omf concave faceting machine at 'Electric Park'.

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THE GIA AT CARLSBAD
As well as the Tucson show I visited the Gemmological Institute of America's Campus at 5345 Armada Drive, Carslbad in California (it is almost next door to 'Legoland'). If you are in California it is well worth a visit, the GIA run tours of the facility and you will see a great selection of crystals, cut gems and the like. It is necessary to phone ahead to book in if you wish to visit the campus.

The entrance to the GIA campus at Carlsbad in California.

The musical instruments for an orchestra produced from carved gem material and gold.

The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum is also well worth a visit if you are passing through L.A., the display of crystals/minerals and cut gemstones has to be seen to be believed! You can easily spend half a day in the mineral section of the museum alone. The mineral display includes a peridot crystal which is apparently the largest known peridot crystal.
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As well as the Tucson gem show, I was forturnate to visit several national parks in the south-west of the U.S.A. Many of these parks provided great examples of the geology of the U.S.A. If you would like to view some photos of those parks then go to the National Parks page.